New Flyer of America Inc. congratulated Seattle’s King County Metro (KCM) on the official unveiling and launch of its electric bus test and evaluation program utilizing four Xcelsior CHARGE™ battery-electric, heavy-duty transit buses (two 40-foot and two 60-foot).

KCM made a firm commitment to further reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in the greater Seattle area, and to reach full zero-emission fleet status as soon as 2034 and no later than 2040. The four leased zero-emission Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses and depot chargers will support KCM’s continued pursuit of its climate goals, and will further its transition to a fully zero-emission vehicle fleet energized by renewable energy.

“King County Metro is accelerating the transition to a clean-energy future, not only in the greater Seattle area but across North America with a low and no-emission fleet,” said Rob Gannon, KCM’s GM. “We are proud to introduce battery-electric buses to the public and to continue partnering with New Flyer on clean, connected transit solutions.”

King County Executive Dow Constantine has set a goal to reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions by preparing KCM to increase transit service through 2020 with no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions, a goal that should double transit use in Seattle by 2040. This goal builds on an extensive track record of KCM’s evolution to low and no-emission buses: in 2002, KCM was the first to adopt New Flyer’s 60-foot diesel-electric hybrid transit bus, and since then has introduced 1,332 hybrid-electric buses to its fleet. Nearly 90% of KCM's fleet has been updated to include either all-electric or hybrid-electric vehicles.